The Youth Risk Behavior Survey was last administered during the fall of 2007 and will be done again in the fall of 2009 to students in grades 6, 8, 10, and 12. The survey, developed by the Centers for Disease Control gathers information about behaviors associated with the leading causes of illness, injury and death among young people and adults in our country. Since this survey is given throughout the country, we are able to compare the results of students in Westfield with students across Massachusetts and the country. In addition, this was the fourth time that the YRBS was administered in Westfield (2001, 2003, 2005 and 2007), therefore we were able to track changes that have occurred with the same group of students.

The information collected by this anonymous survey helps educators and other personnel within our district improve health education aimed at preventing and reducing health risks behaviors among youth in Westfield. We also use this data as a basis for competitive state and local grants.

The middle and high school surveys are different, but several of the questions are the same and therefore allow us to monitor the changes from the middle school to the high schools. They were paper and pencil multiple-choice surveys which took students one period to complete. Student participation was voluntary and anonymous; no names were ever collected or reported. The surveys asked about tobacco, alcohol and other drug activity; behaviors related intentional and unintentional injury; eating habits and physical activity; and behaviors related to HIV infection, other sexually transmitted infections and unintended pregnancy. The middle school version was much shorter. The few sexual behavior questions in the middle school version were not asked at the sixth grade level. If you would like to view the high school survey you can log onto the CDC website at http://www.cdc.gov/HealthyYouth/yrbs/index.htm

The 2009 Youth Risk Behavior Survey will also be available for parents to view on September 30, 2009 from 7:30am to 4pm in the School Committee Room at 22 Ashley Street.